Women's Basketball Announces 2008-09 Schedule

Staying true to form, one of the more challenging schedules around the nation awaits the 2008-09 Kansas women’s basketball team. The Jayhawks look to make their second-straight postseason appearance and the program’s third in the last four seasons, but will have to get past a slate that features 12 games versus 2008 NCAA Tournament teams, including eight teams from the Big 12 Conference, and five match-ups against 2008 Women’s NIT squads, including WNIT Champion Marquette.

“The schedule we have in front of us will provide a great challenge for our players,” said fifth-year KU head coach Bonnie Henrickson. “Last season our strength of schedule ranked in the top 20 in the NCAA and I would expect this year’s schedule to be no different.

The Jayhawks will prepare for regular season play with two exhibition contests in Allen Fieldhouse. KU will host Fort Hays State (Nov. 2) and Washburn (Nov. 9) in its final tune-ups before the official start of the season.

Kansas will open the regular season with a pair of games in Allen Fieldhouse. KU will host Sacred Heart on Friday, Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. It will then welcome 2008 NCAA Tournament participant Iowa for a game on Tuesday, Nov. 18, with tip-off scheduled for 1 p.m.

The Jayhawks will travel east on I-70 for a game at Saint Louis on Sunday, Nov. 23, before returning to Lawrence for two-straight games. Kansas will host New Orleans (Nov. 30) and San Jose State (Dec. 4). Following the home stand, Kansas will make its way to Milwaukee (Wis.) for a game against Marquette. The Jayhawks defeated the Golden Eagles, 74-55, in a December match-up in Allen Fieldhouse last season.

KU will host Western Illinois on Wednesday, Dec. 10, before hitting the road for three-straight games. The Jayhawks will travel to 2008 WNIT participant Creighton on Saturday, Dec. 13, before venturing to California for a pair of games versus UCLA (Dec. 21) and Pepperdine (Dec. 23).

After breaking for the holidays, the Jayhawks will host Houston on Wednesday, Dec. 31 and New Mexico State on Sunday, Jan. 4, for their final non-conference games of 2008-09. KU will also host an additional yet to be determined home game during non-conference action.

“Highlighted by Iowa, Marquette and UCLA, our non-conference schedule is stocked full of games that will really test us as we prepare for the Big 12 Conference,” said Henrickson. “Not only will we face many different styles of play, but we will also be doing it both at home and on the road. The teams on our non-conference schedule will provide us great preparation as we head into conference play.”

The Jayhawks will open Big 12 Conference play with a road outing against 2008 conference champion Kansas State on Saturday, Jan. 10. They will also travel for games at Nebraska (Jan. 21), Texas A&M (Jan. 31), Missouri (Feb. 7), Texas (Feb. 11), Colorado (Feb. 18), Oklahoma State (Feb. 25) and Iowa State (March 7) during conference action.

“Eleven teams from the Big 12 competed in the postseason last year and I expect the league to be even stronger this season,” said Henrickson. “With our experienced roster returning this season, along with our outstanding newcomers, I am looking forward to competing against our powerful conference opponents.”

The 2009 Big 12 Championship will tip off Thursday, March 12, in Oklahoma City’s Cox Convention Center, with the championship game slated for Sunday, March 15.